Sophomore punter Ryan Rodwell shines; DeLand future looks bright
by Chris Hays
Article posted on 12/14/2009

APOPKA - Sure you've heard of Pop Saunders (committed to Florida) and Shontrelle Johnson (Northwestern), big Trey Pettis ( Florida State) and Jared Wilken, Dentrell Pate and Eldrick Bright, Mark Joyce (USF) and Dramon Grady (Memphis) and even QB Nick Ciciarelli, who is out with a non-football injury.

Those are the heralded DeLand High football players. They're mostly seniors besides Saunders and Pettis, but Friday night at Apopka, a couple of younger stars made a big impact on the Bulldogs' 20-7 6A state semifinal victory over the Blue Darters.

Most notably among the youngsters was sophomore punter Ryan Rodwell (6-2, 175) just may have been the MVP of the game for the Bulldogs, after nailing several punts inside the Apopka five-yard line to bail out a struggling offense.

His last one was huge, backing Apopka up to the 1-yard line. The next play resulted in a safety and a 14-7 DeLand lead, which pretty much salted the game away, and zapped any Apopka momentum.

Those kicks may well have put Rodwell on recruiting charts, and he definitely has found a place in the Sentinel's database.

With players returning like Rodwell and freshman RB Jo Jo Kemp, juniors Saunders and Pettis, junior DT Moroa White and junior FB Achim Johnson, just to name a few, the 'Dawgs look like they might even be making noise for future years, as well.

Coach Kevin Pettis looks to have a good thing going up in DeLand.

Ryan Rodwell Bio >

 

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